We need to protect all youth involved in Rotary Youth Programs, for example Interact, RYLA, Youth Exchange, Children at Risk, Mentoring Programs, ELC, and local club projects.Announcing an Exciting Innovation!!

We have developed a new streamlined (and simple) process which allows you to complete your Volunteer Affidavit and Interview in a secured online environment (rather than filling out forms and meeting with your club YPO).

You just select 'Online Youth Services Volunteer Affidavit' from the Links section on the left, select your Club, select your name from the list, then click on 'Send YSVA link'. (If your name doesn't appear just email Scot Smithee with your Name and Club and he'll add you to the database and send you the link

When you have completed the online Volunteer affidavit, you will also have provided email addresses for your 3 personal references. Please alert these individuals to be looking for their personal email link from the system as they will be able to simply answer the questions in a secure online environment (about 8 questions - so not a lengthy ordeal for references).

That's it! All three required forms (YSVA, Interview and Reference Checks) are completed online. Streamlined, quick and easy.ROTARY DISTRICT 5170 ABUSE AND HARASSMENT PREVENTION POLICY
Rotary clubs place great emphasis on their work with people in the community, including young people, through its many Youth Services programs including Rotary Youth Exchange, RYLA, Rotaract, Interact, Speech Contest, and mentoring. These volunteer efforts are vital to the quality of life in our communities and to the good reputation of Rotary and Rotarians. For these good works to continue it is extremely important that our Rotary clubs protect the interests of everyone involved, and create and maintain a safe and respectful environment for all participants in Rotary activities. Fulfilling this duty safeguards the interests of Rotary Clubs and Rotarians by minimizing their risk of liability, including legal liability, should any participant in a Rotary activity become a victim of abuse.

There is a Youth Protection Certification process for individual volunteers.Click here to get a checklist and information on this process.

Clubs with involvement in any youth program must complete these minimum requirements for Club Certification:

At least three club members must be completely screened and trained to respond to problems or concerns that might arise, including responding to and reporting allegations of abuse or harassment (this requirement is met by completion of the four steps in the Youth Protection Certification process).

The club's fully certified volunteers must include at least one member of each gender.

The Club Youth Services Certification Application must be viewed online and acknowledged by the Club President, Youth Services Chair and Youth Protection chair. The Club President is sent a link to the Youth Services Certification page and they select the Rotarians who are the Youth Services and Youth Protection chairs. All three individuals receive an email link to the document and agree to comply with it.

If a club receives an allegation of abuse or complaint involving a youth in any Rotary sponsored program, the club should immediately contact the District 5170 Youth Protection Officer (DYPO) Scot Smithee, for assistance with resolving the situation.

We want each club to have a Youth Protection Officer (YPO). Click here for the YPO Job Description.

Links on the left side of this page provide online training links, forms and instructions for Youth Service volunteers.